Collapsible carrying means for receptacles



P 8, 1954 P. E. CLAUS ETAL COLLAPSIBLE CARRYING MEANS FOR RECEPTACLES Filed Nov. 1, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS PAUL. E. CLAUS WARREN C. RENDALL WILLIAM F. NYE iffMA i/K Patented Sept. 28, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COLLAPSIBLE CARRYING MEANS FOR RECEPTACLES Maryland Application November 1, 1950, Serial No. 193,414

11 Claims.

This invention appertams to receptacles or baskets formed of corrugated fibreboard, solid fibreboard or other suitable material and more particularly to a collapsible carrying device in combination therewith.

There are many types of collapsible carrying devices for receptacles and baskets in use at the present time. However, there is a need for an automatically collapsing carrying device in combination with a receptacle wherein the material of the receptacle body is utilized to the fullest extent without sacrificing strength characteristics or complicating the design. When the body material of the receptacle is employed as part of the carrying device, a serious sacrifice of strength usually results. A modern, commercially practical carrier should have an automatically collapsing carrying device so substantial saving in storage space may be realized when. the receptacles are stacked vertically one on another. The combination of carrying device and receptacle should also be easy to manufacture and should be adapted for shipment in a knocked down condition. It should also be easy for the user to assemble and the carrying device should collapse without injuring the articles carried. The combined carrying device and receptacle to be commercially successful should also provide a maximum unobstructed area for the display of the users advertising. carrying device and receptacle fully meets all of the requirements set out above.

One of the principal objects of our invention is to provide, in a receptacle of the above noted character, a collapsible carrying device of sufficient strength to support the contents of the attached receptacle, and wherein the device is automatically collapsible to-attain a folded, nonprojecting position when any downward force is exerted thereon.

A further object of this invention is to provide a collapsible carrying device for a receptacle which will automatically open to a normal carrying position when. grasped and lifted by the hand.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a carrying device for a basket or container which uses a minimum of material and utilizes the material already in the receptacle to the greatest advantage.

Another object of this invention. is to provide a collapsible carrying device which is simple to operate and simple as well as economical to manufacture. It is. likewise an object of this invention to provide a collapsible carrying: de-

The present collapsible vice and receptacle that may be shipped in a knocked down condition and which requires no tools of any description to set it up in a, usable condition.

A further object of this invention is to provide a collapsible carrying device and receptable pleasing to the eye and affording ample unobstructed space for advertising matter.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a full and complete understanding of the construction and operation of the device.

This invention comprises the combination of a carrying device and receptacle wherein the carrying device includes a receptacle handle collapsibly supported in pivoting, sliding and interlocking engagement with flaps foldably connected to the walls of the said receptacle.

The invention also consists in the parts, arrangements and the combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed. The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and similar reference numerals therein refer to like parts, wherever they occur.

Fig. l is an isometric view of the container or basket with the handle shown detached for purposes of revealing details thereof.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation of the container with the handle shown in the extended or carrying position, the View being taken at line 22 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that in Fig. 2, but wherein the handle is shown in the collapsed position.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the blank or unfolded form of the container comprising the body and handle supporting flaps, and wherein scored portions are indicated by dotted lines and cut edges and slitted portions are indicated by solid lines.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, and fragmentary plan View of the flap and handle structure shown in an intermediate position relative to those of Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 6 is an isometric and fragmentary view of the handle member, showing the manner of engaging the same in a flap opening.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a modified guide opening in the handle flap, the view being a fragmentary enlargement of one of the container flaps.

Fig. 8 is an isometric view of a modified form of a container in combination with the subject handle and supporting flaps, the handle being shown in the open or carrying position.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the handle member in which two guide fiap notches are provided.

Figures 1 through 4 disclose a preferred. form of the container or basket, wherein the main body thereof is prepared in flat, blank form from suitable sheet material. The respective side walls or panels l are provided with inner side panels 3 which are folded along the double scores 2 thereby forming the upper edge of side walls I. The inner panels 3 act as holding members for the end wall flaps 5 when the blank is erected in the usual manner. Each inner panel 3 is die out or suitably slit to form the respective flaps 4 for the engagement by a handle, as will appear. The supporting flaps i are foldably connected to the upper edge of the side walls I at the Zone of the single scores 6. The outline of the fiaps 4 may be of any suitable shape, but a preferred shape with rounded ends and tapering sides is indicated in Fig. 4.

One of the fiaps 4 is designated as a pivot flap and is provided with a die cut triangulated opening i in which the legs are longer than the base 9 and come together at the apex s nearest the fold line B of the Thus, the opening '5 is inverted or reversed relative to a normal position, so that its base side Q is nearest the free edge of flap i, and substantially parallel to the plane of the side walls l as seen in Fig. l. The other flap t is designated as a guide flap, and is provided with an opening it having the outline or shape of the character shown in Fig. 4. The guide flap opening ill is defined by an elongated base edge ll substantially parallel to the plane of the side walls i and a relatively shorter top edge I 2 which is parallel to the base ii, and by opposite side edges defined by the upper sections it and the lower sections i l thereby providing guiding means for sliding the handle member it into carrying position.

For reasons that will appear hereinafter, the opening it} in the guide fiap has the lower edge ll parallel to and appreciably longer than the upper edge I2, and this relation of upper and. lower, or base and top edges will prevail throughout the several modified shapes of the opening it, including those disclosed in Figs. 4 and '7. The modification of Fig. 7 shows the provision of substantially straight side edges is which function as guides in the same manner as edges Ill. The general shape of the modified flap opening is that of a trapezoid. The opening it may, however, be defined by an arrangement of edges other than those shown, so long as a portion or section of each side edge is directed at a divergent angle relative to the upper edge of the opening. It is also noted that the length of the lower edge II should be somewhat greater than the width of the handle end portion to receive the handle with at least a minimum clearance, and that the lengthwise trend of opening l, as measured normal to the edge should be substantially right angular to the lower edge ll of opening it. This limitation prevents accidental release or" the handle [6 from openings 1 or iii.

The handle member 56 is substantially rectangular in outline, and in a form (Figs. 1 and 5) thereof it is provided with two opposing pairs of notches. The pivot flap engaging end of the handle is provided with lateral notches, recesses or the like, as at H, and the relatively uniform width of the handle and tab is is such that it may pass through the opening l, as shown in Fig. 6. It is noted that the width of the web d between the notches H is slightly less than the length of the edge 9 of opening I. At the opposite end of handle it, a tab 29 equal in width to that of the handle, is adapted to fit into the guide-fla opening ill, and the tab 20 is further defined by the recesses or notches 2 l. The depth of the notches 2! is such that the width of the web material therebetween is slightly less than the length of the upper or top edge 82 of the guide flap opening ll]. Inwardly of the notches or recesses 2 l, the handle is provided with shoulders or guides 22 which have a divergent relation and are designed to taper gradually, as Shown.

In assembling the present carrying device, the container or basket is erected and the upper marginal side wall panels 3 are folded flatwise toward the inner face of the side walls l, the end flaps 5 (Fig. 4) being interposed. The die cut supporting flaps 5 will remain substantially upright, but can be made to assume the position as in Fig. 1 after being forced inwardly and creased at line 5. The pivot fiap end is of the handle member [5 is inserted from the inner side through the pivot opening '5 by rotating or angling the handle until one longitudinal edge of the handle member (see Fig. 6) can be directed into the apex 8 of the pivot opening. When the tab end is of the handle member [3 has been inserted far enough into the pivot flap opening i, a notch I? will register with the apex 8 and with a rotating and swinging movement, it can be brought flatwise against the upper base 8, as shown in phantom in Fig. 6. The guide flap tab 255 of the handle member is not insertable at opening ill in any way but fiatwise to the edge li, so long as the opposite end is located in opening '5.

After the handle recesses or notches 22 have passed through the guide opening iii, and assuming that the notches ll properly engage the edges of opening 7, the handle is ready for use. Any lifting or upward force on the handle member it will cause the same to slide upwardly in the opening it and have a necessary pivoting relation in opening i to obtain an interlocked relation. Conversely when a downward force is exerted on the handle, the mutual guiding action of the tapering edges is (Fig. 1) of the guide hole Iii against the reversely tapering inner shoulders 22 of the guide notches, as in Fig. 5, forces the handle member flatwise against the lower edge H of the guide hole iii. The lower edge I I being of slightly greater length than the greatest width of the handle member it, the handle easily slides through the guide holes it into the collapsed position as in Fig. 3. During either the collapsing or erecting operations, the pivot notches ll at all times pivot about the upper base 9 of the flap pivot hole 1. Likewise, the tapered guiding edges '22 on the handle and the side edges I3-l i, or as modified at it in Fig. '7, of the opening it cooperate to effect a lowering of the handle relative to the flap when collapsing the device, or an erection of the fiap upon elevation of the handle.

The basket type container of preferred construction has been above described, and we have also shown a preferred form of a closed type container in combination with the collapsible carrying device, this modification being illustrated in Fig. 8. It is pointed out that the operation of the collapsible carrying device or handle assembly employed with the modified container is identical in all respects. The structural difference between the collapsible basket and the collapsible container, as modified, resides in the construction ofhandleflaps; In thebasket, the flaps-4 are: die cut from: the upper marginal, downwardly turned side Wall flaps,- but in the modified formof the-container; thefi'aps 2 F and 25; are die cut from the walls of the lid 2'6 and the container body wall 2'! respectively, and these parts of the-containermay' be integral or separable, as desired;

The: term sliding and interlocking engagement as used herein refers t'o'the engagement of the. handle in: openings in flapsi connected to the walls of areceptacle in: such manner that both ends of the handle are locked in the upper partof the flap openings when the handle is grasped for lifting; the receptacle, and one end of: the handle slides' in the lower portion of its flap openingas the: carrying device is'depressed to collapsed position; I he term pivoting engagement refers to the. rotation of the other end of the handle about the upper edge of the pivotingflap opening.

A further modification is shown in connection with Fig. 9; wherein one end of handle Iii, as before noted in' Fig. 1, is provided with thenotches or" recesses I! and end tab [9' andthe; opposite end of the handle is providedwith' the notches 2 I" and the tapering edges 22. The presentmodification includes the provision of an intermediate or auxiliary set of notches 31 and tapering edges 32-. The provision of: the auxiliary set of notches 3'1 and tapering edges 32 adapts the handle as a means for locking the flaps 4" in closed position.

It is to be: understood that the embodiments herein described are illustrative and not restrictive; and it is: also to be understood that the invention may be susceptible of embodiment in other modified forms,- andthat all such modifica tionswhich are similar or equivalent hereto may come within the: scope of the claims next appearing;

What we claim is:

1. In a carrying receptacle, a receptacle body blank formed from sheet material and capable of self support when erected along scored fold. lines, and collapsible carrying means for the receptacle consisting: of flapsextendingr from opposite walls of the receptacle and derived from material of those walls, each flap having an opening therein.which is spaced. from. the. flap margins, and a handle having pivot forming notches near: one end for pivotal interlocked connection inoneflap opening and guide. notches near theopposite end for. relative. sliding. interlocked connection inithe otherflapopeningrsaid guide notches acting: to direct said handle in its sliding relation in said other flap opening to a position projecting outwardly of the latter opening for permitting foldable collapse of said carrying means, and said handle having additional guide notches intermediate its ends for interlocked engagement in said other flap opening to retain the carry ing means in collapsed position.

2. In a receptacle having a pair of opposed side walls with upper marginal extensions folded inwardly in flatwise relation to the inner faces thereof said side walls being connected together by a pair of opposed end walls; a carrying means comprising a pair of flaps derived from the material of the side walls approximately intermediate of their length foldably connected to the upper edges of side Walls, a rectangularly shaped handle member connecting said flaps together through openings adjacent to their free outer edges, said handle member having opposed transverse locking. notches in each longitudinal edge adjacent to theiend's' thereof, providing web portions between: the bases of said. notches, which web portions engagerandreleasab'ly interconnects the outer boundaries of said fiap. openings and support the weight of the receptacle in the carry-- ing position thereof, the notches in one end of said handle being defined: by parallel inner and outer right angular shoulders and? the notchesin the other end of said handle being defined by outer right angular shoulders and inner portions tapering outwardly from the bases of said notches, said handle between the outer shoulders thereof being of a length to dispose said connectedflaps; when in the carrying position, at a predetermined" angle not exceeding to ahorizontal plane-throughthe fold line of'said flaps, and in the retracted position for stackingsaid receptacle, said flaps being disposed inwardly at substantially right angles to said side walls.

3; The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein the-width of the portionof said handle member lying between the inner shoulders of the notched ends thereof is greater than the width of said openings in said flaps and said handle member isplanar throughout in both the retracted and carrying positions.

4. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein the outer boundary of the opening in one of saidflaps is parallel tothe hinge line thereof and slightly longer than the width of the web portion of the-first mentioned end of said handle member, said openingbeing shaped to permit the insertion of said first mentioned notched end of said handle member-angularl'y therethrough, the upper boundary of 'the opening'inthe other flap being parallel to the fold line thereof, the boundaries of the sides of said opening converging from the ends of said outer boundary, the lower boundary being parallel to said outer boundary and the distance between said outer and inner boundaries being sufii'cient to permit the" insertion of said lastmentioned notched end of said handle memher' angularly therethrough.

51 The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein the central portion of said handle member in retracted position is positioned below the free end edges of said flaps and the first mentioned end ofsaid handle member releasably engages the first mentioned flap in substantially fixed longitudinal relationship; and the lastmentioned end of said handle member slidingly and releasabl'y engagesthe other flap, whereby said handle is in substantiallyfixed longitudinal relationship in thecarrying position and is free to slide outwardly through theopening in saidflap and over the outer faces thereof to the retracted position While maintaining said releasable engaging relationship with said flap.

6. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein the opening in one of said fiaps is of the general shape of an inverted isosceles triangle with the apex positioned toward the flap hinge and through which the first mentioned end of said handle member releasably interconnects in substantially fixed longitudinal relationship and the opening in the other flap is generally trapezoidal in shape with the longest of its parallel sides positioned nearest the flap hinge and through which the last mentioned end of said handle member is inserted, said last mentioned handle end releasably engaging with said flap in substantially fixed longitudinal relationship in the carrying position, and being slidably guided progressively through the opening in said other flap by the outwardly tapering portion of said handle member and the tapering side boundaries of said trapezoidal flap opening into the fully retracted position in substantially fiatwise contact with the lower boundary of said opening, while maintaining said sliding relationship with said flap.

'7. In an open top receptacle having a pair of opposed side walls formed with inner panels folded thereon to form the top margins of the side walls, the combination of collapsible carrying means for the open top receptacle comprising side wall flaps derived from the material of the inner panels so as to be foldable between an erect carrying position and a collapsed position directed inwardly over the open top of the receptacle, each flap being provided with an opening thcrethrough, and a handle member extending between said flaps for carrying the receptacle, said handle having sets of notches in its opposite end portions, one notch set being formed with inner and outer shoulders and the other, notch set being formed with outer shoulders and inner tapering margins, said one notch set engaging a flap opening so that said handle is held against sliding in said opening but is free to pivot between said inner and outer shoulders relative to said flap, and the other notch set engaging the other flap opening so that said handle is free to slide through said flap opening along said tapering margins in one direction to its collapsed position and is limited in its movement in the opposite direction by said outer shoulder, so as to attain an erect receptacle carrying position.

8. The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein each of said flap openings is provided with a rectilinear margin cooperating with said handle member in the support of the receptacle in carrying position, and the width of said handle member inwardly and outwardly of said sets of notches is uniform and greater than the length of said rectilinear margins.

9. The combination set forth in claim '7 wherein the notched end portions of said handle member enter the flap openings from the under side thereof to present a relatively smooth under surface of the flaps and handle to the contentsin the receptacle when said flaps are in the collapsed position.

10. In a receptacle, the combination of a receptacle body having opposed walls, a flap integrally and foldably connected with each of said walls at a wall margin, said flaps being originally derived from the material of said body, and each thereof having an opening formed therein, one of said flap openings being in the shape of a triangle with its apex directed toward the body wall connection of that flap and the shortest edge thereof being opposite said apex, the other flap opening being defined by two spaced and opposed parallel edges and other opposed edges which define guide edges, one of said parallel edges being equal in length to the shortest edge of said triangular shaped opening, and a receptacle carrying handle having notches in the longitudinal side margin near its opposite ends, said notches near one end being adapted to engage and pivot about the edges of said triangular opening adjacent the shortest edge thereof, and said notches near the opposite end being formed with inwardly directed divergently tapering guide edges adapted to slide along said other opposed edges of said other flap opening to displace said handle toward or from the one parallel edge thereof equal to said shortest edge of said triangular opening.

11. In a receptacle, a body blank foldably erected to form walls for the receptacle, flaps foldably connected with opposed walls of the body, one of said flaps having an opening defined by a relatively short edge which is substantially parallel with the flap fold line and in which the relatively longer edges of the opening are located between said short edge and the flap fold line, the other flap having an opening defined by a relatively short edge, an opposed relatively longer parallel edge and interconnecting edges for said parallel edges which provide guide portions, and a separate handle having pivot forming notches near one end portion and guide notches near the other end, said notched end portions being adapted to pass into said flap openings when aligned with the longest dimension of the openings and have an interlocking relation with the flaps when in engagement with the respective short edges of said flap openings, said other end of the handle having'said guide notches also providing guide edges for sliding cooperation with said guide portions in said other flap to efiect positive interlocking engagement and release of said handle relative to said other flap.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,693,420 Wilson Nov. 27, 1928 2,281,701 Larkin May 5, 1942 2,383,183 Fischer Aug. 21, 1945 2,401,664 Robins June 4, 1946 2,411,134 Lambert Nov. 12. 1946 2,443,256 Lebold June 15, 1948 2,508,909 Evans et al May 23, 1950 

